Nora Madrid-Esquival’s world is lived in the shadows, behind books and quiet observations. But when she begins an anonymous text conversation with Arch, the basketball star hiding his own struggles, a connection blooms between them—deep, mysterious, and filled with unspoken truths. As their virtual bond grows stronger, they are forced to face the reality that the person behind the screen might be closer than they ever imagined.In this heartwarming and poignant tale of vulnerability...

In the wilds of the Scottish Highlands, Isla Graham finds herself caught between the remnants of a broken engagement and the pull of a life she never expected. Sent to care for her ailing aunt in the remote Cairndale, Isla seeks solace in the rugged landscape—and in Ewan MacLennan, the enigmatic caretaker whose quiet strength and deep connection to the land offer her an unexpected refuge.But as the stormy weather mirrors the turbulence in Isla’s heart, a bond begins to form between...

"Offside Love" is a poignant, slow-burn romance that unveils the complexities of love, ambition, and the struggle between personal freedom and commitment. Rhys Thibault, a rising hockey star, and Isla Calloway, a literature student, are bound by a contract—but as their lives intertwine, the line between pretense and reality begins to blur.Set against the backdrop of fast-paced sports and quiet academic life, their fragile arrangement transforms into something deepe...

When deaf cleaning attendant Alina Reed accidentally blocks a corporate elevator, she never imagines the icy-eyed CEO inside will become her sanctuary. Struggling to support her rebellious brother while navigating a soundless world, Alina has built walls of independence that no one can breach—until Owen Clarke discovers her secret rooftop refuge.Owen's life of boardroom battles and hollow victories leaves him yearning for genuine connection. On that windswept rooftop thirty-eight f...

Wren Ellis thought she was starting over. At forty-two, with the weight of a failed marriage behind her, she moved to the quiet town of Sallow Cove, Florida, to escape her past and find herself again. But life in this small coastal town doesn’t go as planned. A mysterious neighbor, Jake Ford, disrupts her carefully constructed solitude.Jake, known by his painful past and a reputation he would rather forget has his own battles to fight. Despite his rough exterior, he sees through Wr...

In the heart of Boston, Claire Evans, a promising graduate student, is about to meet the professor who could change everything—Professor Benjamin Matthews. Revered for his brilliant critiques and exacting standards, Ben is a figure of academic perfection, yet his guarded nature hides a vulnerability few understand.Assigned as his graduate assistant, Claire navigates the intimidating halls of academia, where her thesis on post-war resilience in women’s fiction meets his sharp intell...

In the bustling streets of London, artist Leo Harrington is drowning in creative drought, his once-vibrant world reduced to shades of gray. Seeking solace, he stumbles into The Gilded Bun, where baker Elara Thorne crafts confections that warm the soul. Their chance encounter sparks an unexpected connection, but Elara is on the verge of closing her beloved shop to care for her ailing aunt in the sun-drenched hills of Provence.As Leo follows his muse to the lavender fields of Saint-J...

Sarah is the sharp-witted editor of the school paper, content to pine silently for her next-door neighbor and lifelong confidant, Alex Ford—the charismatic basketball captain whose easy charm captivates everyone but sees her only as his quirky best friend. Their mornings begin with his playful wake-up rituals through connected windows, a tradition that tugs at Sarah's heartstrings while Alex navigates the pressures of senior year, a picture-perfect girlfriend, and unspoken doubts about his...

In a bustling city where everyone seems to have a place, Isla is stuck—caught between the expectations of work and the emptiness that follows her every step. After a moment of vulnerability, she mistakenly sends an intimate letter meant for her best friend to the wrong address. But when Finn, a reserved and meticulous man, opens it, he finds a raw glimpse into a life he didn’t know existed.Instead of ignoring the mix-up, Finn responds. What begins as an accidental exchange of lette...

Nebula Award nominee for Best NovellaWorld Fantasy Award nominee for Best Novella“If I had to nominate a worthy successor to Angela Carter, I would nominate Kelly Barnhill. "—Laura Ruby, two-time National Book Award finalist and author of Bone Gap"A slim little novella that packs a narrative punch more intense than that of many books ten times its length."—NPRAward-w...

Each month The Dark brings you the best in dark fantasy and horror! Selected by Clara Madrigano and Sean Wallace and published by Prime Books, this issue includes four all-new stories:"Sweat, Rice" by Shari Paul"Lap Record" by Nelson Stanley"Love Sharp Enough to Rend" by Leah Ning"We All Fall Down" by Ai Jiang

The old Norris cabin sits quiet and abandoned in the heart of the Cold Water Forest. Town locals know the area by reputation, passing stories of the place between themselves on cool, summer nights. But now the season is changing, sending the rats that infest the surrounding woodlands scurrying into their holes.Broke and desperate, Kelsey Fletcher flees along with her elderly mother and pensive daughter to the only place left available to them. She hasn't heard the stories, hasn't b...